Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 16th August 2026
Last updated
Sat 15th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Mostly light rain and drizzle will drift in from the west, some western hills often damp throughout the day and shrouded in cloud. Rain patchier northeastward across the Highlands, but a risk of local bursts of rain forming in the afternoon. Mid & south Wales largely dry. Generally light winds.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Occasional rain, cloud varied over tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 15-20mph from dawn, soon easing to 10-15mph or less, at times variable direction.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
Some drizzle, light rain, odd showers
Damp and drizzly over high summits at times while in cloud. Some steadier light rain spreading from west for periods, mostly little toward the east. During afternoon a risk of odd heavier bursts widely, but very hit and miss locally.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly tops, variably more extensive
Much of the day, cloud banks mostly confined to high tops above 900-1000m, some varied lower banks early in the day. Breaks will occur, best east and north, but also some more extensive layers over high terrain during rain.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% near Ben Alder, to 50% N/E Cairngorms NP.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, glimpses of sun mostly toward Deeside. Excellent visibility away from cloud and rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 9 or 10C, mildest eastern hills and where out of cloud.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 17th August 2026
Last updated
Sat 15th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South then southwesterly, strengthening from 15mph or less at first, to often 25mph middle of day onward; by dusk 40mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Starting small, but increasingly affecting ease of walking, later risk more challenging over high terrain.
How Wet?
Rain develops, becomes persistent
Largely dry start, then spots of rain develop from west during morning, becoming more persistent rain into afternoon, some heavier falls setting in for southwestern areas late in day, steady rain evening into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Forming increasingly and lowering
Some varied cloud banks early in the day over mid to upper slopes, clearing for a time. Cloud lowering from west over high terrain in rain, filling in increasingly and tending to lower to 600-800m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50% dropping to 10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early weak sun gives way to thickening high cloud, then overcast. Very good visibility, reducing to poor as rain develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C. As wind increases, feeling nearer to freezing where exposed on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 18th August 2026
Last updated
Sat 15th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 20 to 30mph, risk 40mph for periods high Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking, on high tops risk frequent buffeting making movement challenging. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A few showers mostly west
Occasional showery rain, most common toward and west of the A9, briefly heavy.
Cloud on the hills?
Capping higher areas, some breaks
Most cloud often above 800 to 1000m, but some lower patches in the morning. Tending to break higher with time.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Broken cloud and sun, best in east. Visibility very good, briefly reduced in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, trending cooler later in day. Feeling near or below freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure initially to the north of Scotland early in the new week will eventually envelop the whole of Britain next week bringing generally unsettled and cooler conditions increasingly widely. Often blustery widely, west turning northerly winds later in week - becoming notably chilly over higher mountains. Rain extends into Scotland on Monday, turning heavy, then moves south over England and Wales by Monday night into early Tuesday. The rest of the week sees showery rain common for all areas, the rain most persistent in western Scotland, but heavier showery bursts and thundery downpours become widespread mid to late week.